MaxPreps, America's source for high school sports, today announced
Caleb Downs of
Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) as the 2022 MaxPreps National High School Football Player of the Year.
Downs joins an esteemed group of players to win the prestigious award and be recognized as the country's best high school football player, including Derrick Henry, Kyler Murray and Bryce Young, who have all won MaxPreps National High School Football Player of the Year since its inception in 2006. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Downs was presented with the award Tuesday evening on CBS Sports HQ.
A five-star Alabama signee at safety and 247Sports' No. 6-ranked recruit nationally in the Class of 2023, the 6-foot-0, 195-pound Downs led Mill Creek to a 14-1 record and Georgia Class AAAAAAA championship, the first state title in school history. Behind the two-way star's 1,064 total yards, 23 touchdowns, 83 tackles and five interceptions, Mill Creek also finished as Georgia's top-ranked team and No. 11 nationally in the final MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.
"As America's source for high school sports with coverage of every team, game and player, the MaxPreps Player of the Year award reflects the nation's very best," said Steve Montoya, MaxPreps Director of Programming. "The award considers both individual excellence and team success, and this season Caleb stood out all year as the country's best player while leading his team to unprecedented heights."
Downs was also named to the MaxPreps All-America Team announced Tuesday and previously was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year in Georgia (
Click here to see the award winner in each state and Washington D.C.).
With a mission to celebrate high school sports, MaxPreps annually recognizes the best prep student-athletes and coaches across nearly every sport. Each year, MaxPreps honors the achievements of more than 1,000 athletes and coaches as MaxPreps supports local sports communities with its tools and award-winning photography, video, articles and social channels.
Past MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners2006 — Riley Dodge, QB, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
2007 — Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette (Pa.)
2008 — Garrett Gilbert, QB, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
2009 — Dillon Baxter, ATH, Mission Bay (San Diego)
2010 — Dano Graves, QB, Folsom (Calif.)
2011 — Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
2012 — Derrick Henry, RB, Yulee (Fla.)
2013 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen (Texas)
2014 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen (Texas)
2015 — Derrick Brown, DL, Lanier (Sugar Hill, Ga.)
2016 — Tate Martell, QB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2017 — J.T. Daniels, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2018 — Bru McCoy, ATH, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2019 — D.J. Uiagalelei, QB, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) / Bryce Young, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2020 — Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
2021 — Cade Klubnik, QB, Westlake (Austin, Texas)
